Newport Canners

{{Infobox Minor League Baseball

| name = Newport Canners

| firstseason = 1937

| lastseason = 1950

| allyears = 1937–1942, 1948–1950

| city = Newport, Tennessee

| logo =

| caplogo =

| class level = Class D (1937–1942, 1948–1950)

| league = {{plainlist|

Mountain States League (1948–1950)
Appalachian League (1937–1942)

}}

| majorleague = {{plainlist|

Washington Senators (1940, 1942)
New York Yankees (1939)

}}

| nickname = Newport Canners (1937–1942, 1948–1950)

| ballpark = City Memorial Park (1937–1942, 1948–1950)

| leaguenum = 0

| leaguechamps = None

}}

The Newport Canners were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Class D Appalachian League from 1937 to 1942 and the Mountain States League from 1948 to 1950. They were located in Newport, Tennessee, and played their home games at City Memorial Park. The team's games were temporarily transferred to Maryville, Tennessee, for approximately two weeks late in the 1940 season.

The Canners were unaffiliated with a Major League Baseball team during six of their nine seasons but had affiliations with the New York Yankees in 1939 and the Washington Senators in 1940 and 1942. Over all nine seasons of competition, their all-time regular season win–loss record was 426–553 (.435).

History

=First stretch (1937–1942)=

The Canners became the first professional baseball team to hail from Newport, Tennessee, when they joined the Class D Appalachian League in 1937.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Newport&state=TN&country=US|title=Newport, Tennessee Encyclopedia|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}} The team was named for the nearby Stokely Brothers cannery.{{cite book |last=Henry |first=Ran |date=2014 |title=Spurrier: How the Ball Coach Taught the South to Play Football |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RK2DBQAAQBAJ |publisher=Rowman and Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4930-1545-0 |page=55}} They opened their inaugural season with a 17–10 road victory over the Pennington Gap Lee Bears on May 22.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55524436/newport-licks-pennington-gap-17-to-10/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Newport Licks Pennington Gap, 17 to 10|work=Johnson City Chronicle|location=Johnson City|date=May 23, 1937|page=14}} Their first home game was played at the new City Memorial Park on May 26.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1894|title=City Memorial Park in Newport, TN|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 17, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55524642/pennington-gap-bows-to-newport-for/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Pennington Gap Bows to Newport for Third Time|work=Johnson City Chronicle|location=Johnson City|date=May 27, 1937|page=9}} The home team outscored Pennington Gap, 20–6. Despite a good start to the season, Newport failed to win either half of the league's split schedule with a record of 49–56 (.467), placing last of four teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-APPY1/y-1937|title=1937 Appalachian League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}} The next two seasons were the two lowest in franchise history. The 1938 Canners posted a fifth-place 42–66 (.389) record,{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-APPY1/y-1938|title=1938 Appalachian League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}} while the 1939 club finished last of six teams at 30–89 (.252) as an affiliate of the New York Yankees.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-APPY1/y-1939|title=1939 Appalachian League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-APPY1/y-1939|title=1939 Appalachian League|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}}

In 1940, Newport entered into an affiliation with the Washington Senators.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-APPY1/y-1940|title=1940 Appalachian League|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}} Following a season of poor attendance, league directors voted on July 30 to transfer the franchise to Maryville, Tennessee, for the remainder of the season.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55525741/newport-club-franchise-is-transferred/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Newport Club Franchise is Transferred|work=Elizabethton Star|location=Elizabethton|date=July 31, 1940|page=7}} Their games were subsequently transferred back to Newport on the week of August 11.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rutledge|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55526280/spying-on-sports/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Spying On Sports|work=Johnson City Chronicle|location=Johnson City|date=August 15, 1940|page=10}} The Newport/Maryville team compiled a 56–63 (.471) record and earned a spot in the postseason playoffs, but they lost to the Greeneville Burley Cubs in the opening round, two games to one.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-APPY1/y-1940|title=1940 Appalachian League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}}

File:RedLucasGoudeycard.jpg was player-manager of the 1942 team.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lucas-001cha|title=Red Lucas Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}}]]

Returning permanently to Newport as an unaffiliated team in 1941, the Canners finished with a franchise-best 66–52 (.559) mark, again qualifying for the playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-APPY1/y-1941|title=1941 Appalachian League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}} Newport was eliminated in the semifinals by the Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox, 3–2. The Canners reaffiliated with Washington for the 1942 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-APPY1/y-1942|title=1942 Appalachian League|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}} On June 14, Greeneville surrendered its franchise to the league due to poor attendance, and league directors subsequently voted to drop Newport due to its distance from the remaining clubs and so as to maintain an even four-team league.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55526793/newport-dropped-elizabethton-and-twins/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Newport Dropped; Elizabethton and Twins Vie Tonight|work=The Bristol News Bulletin|location=Bristol|date=June 15, 1942|page=2}} The club maintained their expulsion was against the league's constitution,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55527006/newport-fights-to-retain-place-in-appy/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Newport Fights to Retain Place in Appy Loop|work=The Knoxville Journal|location=Knoxville|date=June 16, 1942|page=19}} and remained in the circuit until being forced out on June 26.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55527186/newport-officially-voted-out-of/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Newport Officially Voted Out of Appalachian|work=The Knoxville Journal|location=Knoxville|date=June 27, 1942|page=7}} Their final game that day was a 12–0 home loss to the Union City Dodgers.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55527295/newport-canners-lose-to-dodgers-by/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Newport Canners Lose to Dodgers by Score of 12 to 0|work=Johnson City Chronicle|location=Johnson City|date=June 27, 1942|page=5}} Their season record was 19–28 (.404).{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-APPY1/y-1940|title=1940 Appalachian League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 16, 2020}} Over six years of competition in the Appalachian League, the Canners accumulated a 258–354 (.422) record. The city did not field another team from 1943 to 1947.

=Second stretch (1948–1950)=

In 1948, the Newport Canners were revived as members of the Class D Mountain States League. Their first game was a 6–4 loss to the Morristown Red Sox on the road on May 1.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55644753/opening-game-went-to-red-sox/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Opening Game Went to Red Sox|work=Morristown Gazette Mail|location=Morristown|date=May 3, 1948|page=8}} They ended the season in fourth place with a 58–59 (.496) record and qualified for the playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-MTSS/y-1948|title=1948 Mountain States League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 19, 2020}} Newport was eliminated by Morristown, 3–2, in the semifinals. The 1949 team placed sixth of eight teams with a 59–66 (.472) season.{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-MTSS/y-1949|title=1949 Mountain States League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 19, 2020}}

Canners right-hander Jose Aguiar pitched two no-hitters in 1950. The first occurred on June 23 against the Big Stone Gap Rebels, a 7–0 win in the second game of a seven-inning doubleheader.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55712807/newport-hurler-gets-no-hitter/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Newport Hurler Gets No-Hitter|work=Middlesboro Daily News|location=Middlesboro|date=June 24, 1950|page=2}} He tossed a second no-hit game on August 19, beating Morristown 9–0 in the first game of a doubleheader.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55712943/sox-lose-9-0-as-aguiar-pitches-a-no-hit/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Sox Lose 9-0 as Aguiar Pitches a No-Hit Game|work=Morristown Gazette Mail|location=Morristown|date=August 20, 1950|page=5}} The Canners ended the season in seventh place at 51–74 (.408).{{cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-MTSS/y-1950|title=1950 Mountain States League Standings|work=Stats Crew|access-date=July 19, 2020}} Through three years in the Mountain States League, Newport accumulated a 168–199 (.458) record. Over all nine seasons of competition, their all-time regular season win–loss record was 426–553 (.435).

Season-by-season results

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" scope="col"\|Season !colspan="4" scope="col"\|Regular season !colspan="3" scope="col"\|Postseason !rowspan="2" scope="col"\|MLB affiliate !rowspan="2" class="unsortable" scope="col"\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="col"\|Record !scope="col"\|Win % !scope="col"\|Finish !scope="col"\|{{Abbr\|GB\|Games behind}} !scope="col"\|Record !scope="col"\|Win % !class="unsortable" rowspan="2" scope="col"\|Result
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1937 \| 49–56 \| .467 \| {{sort\|04.0\|4th}} \| {{sort\|09.5\|{{frac\|9\|1\|2}}}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| — \| — \|
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1938 \| 42–66 \| .389 \| {{sort\|05.0\|5th}} \| {{sort\|26.5\|{{frac\|26\|1\|2}}}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| — \| — \|
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1939 \| 30–89 \| .252 \| {{sort\|06.0\|6th}} \| {{sort\|41.0\|41}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| — \| New York Yankees \|
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1940 \| 56–63 \| .471 \| {{sort\|04.0\|4th}} \| {{sort\|29.0\|29}} \| 1–2 \| .333 \| Lost quarterfinals vs. Greeneville Burley Cubs, 2–1 \| Washington Senators \|
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1941 \| 62–52 \| .559 \| {{sort\|03.0\|3rd}} \| {{sort\|09.0\|9}} \| 2–3 \| .400 \| Lost semifinals vs. Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox, 3–2 \| — \|
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1942 \| 19–28 \| .404 \| {{Abbr\|DNF\|Did not finish}} \| {{Abbr\|DNF\|Did not finish}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| — \| Washington Senators \|
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1948 \| 58–59 \| .496 \| {{sort\|04.0\|4th}} \| {{sort\|12.5\|{{frac\|12\|1\|2}}}} \| 2–3 \| .400 \| Lost semifinals vs. Morristown Red Sox, 3–2 \| — \|
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1949 \| 59–66 \| .472 \| {{sort\|06.0\|6th}} \| {{sort\|24.5\|{{frac\|24\|1\|2}}}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| — \| — \|
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\| 1950 \| 51–74 \| .408 \| {{sort\|07.0\|7th}} \| {{sort\|30.0\|30}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| {{sort\|00.0\|—}} \| — \| — \|
class="sortbottom" !scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|Totals ! 426–553 ! .435 ! {{sort\|00.0\|—}} ! {{sort\|00.0\|—}} ! 5–8 ! .385 ! {{sort\|00.0\|—}} ! {{sort\|00.0\|—}} ! {{sort\|00.0\|—}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"

rowspan="2" scope="col"|Season

!colspan="4" scope="col"|Regular season

!colspan="3" scope="col"|Postseason

!rowspan="2" scope="col"|MLB affiliate

!rowspan="2" class="unsortable" scope="col"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="col"|Record

!scope="col"|Win %

!scope="col"|Finish

!scope="col"|{{Abbr|GB|Games behind}}

!scope="col"|Record

!scope="col"|Win %

!class="unsortable" rowspan="2" scope="col"|Result

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1937

| 49–56

| .467

| {{sort|04.0|4th}}

| {{sort|09.5|{{frac|9|1|2}}}}

| {{sort|00.0|—}}

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1938

| 42–66

| .389

| {{sort|05.0|5th}}

| {{sort|26.5|{{frac|26|1|2}}}}

| {{sort|00.0|—}}

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1939

| 30–89

| .252

| {{sort|06.0|6th}}

| {{sort|41.0|41}}

| {{sort|00.0|—}}

| —

| New York Yankees

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1940

| 56–63

| .471

| {{sort|04.0|4th}}

| {{sort|29.0|29}}

| 1–2

| .333

| Lost quarterfinals vs. Greeneville Burley Cubs, 2–1

| Washington Senators

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1941

| 62–52

| .559

| {{sort|03.0|3rd}}

| {{sort|09.0|9}}

| 2–3

| .400

| Lost semifinals vs. Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox, 3–2

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1942

| 19–28

| .404

| {{Abbr|DNF|Did not finish}}

| {{sort|00.0|—}}

| —

| Washington Senators

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1948

| 58–59

| .496

| {{sort|04.0|4th}}

| {{sort|12.5|{{frac|12|1|2}}}}

| 2–3

| .400

| Lost semifinals vs. Morristown Red Sox, 3–2

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1949

| 59–66

| .472

| {{sort|06.0|6th}}

| {{sort|24.5|{{frac|24|1|2}}}}

| {{sort|00.0|—}}

| —

scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1950

| 51–74

| .408

| {{sort|07.0|7th}}

| {{sort|30.0|30}}

| {{sort|00.0|—}}

| —

class="sortbottom"

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Totals

! 426–553

! .435

! {{sort|00.0|—}}

! 5–8

! .385

! {{sort|00.0|—}}

Notable players

Eight Canners also played in at least one game in Major League Baseball during their careers. These players and their seasons with Newport were:

Ed Butka (1940){{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=butka-001edw|title=Ed Butka Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}}
Rod Graber (1948){{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=graber001rod|title=Rod Graber Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}}
Red Lucas (1942)
Red Marion (1940–1941){{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=marion002joh|title=Red Marion Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}}
Jack Merson (1940){{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=merson001joh|title=Jack Merson Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}}
Al Kvasnak (1941){{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kvasna001ale|title=Al Kvasnak Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}}
Art Ruble (1939){{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ruble-001wil|title=Art Ruble Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}}
Tom Saffell (1941){{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=saffel001tho|title=Tom Saffell Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=July 16, 2020}}

References

External links

[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Newport&state=TN&country=US Statistics from Baseball-Reference]
[https://www.statscrew.com/sports/places/m-4191397 Statistics from Stats Crew]

Category:1937 establishments in Tennessee

Category:1950 disestablishments in Tennessee

Category:Baseball teams established in 1937

Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1950

Category:Newport, Tennessee

Category:Defunct Appalachian League teams

Category:Defunct baseball teams in Tennessee

Category:Defunct Mountain States League (1948–1954) teams

Category:Professional baseball teams in Tennessee